Real Salt Lake evens expansion series

January 22, 20108:29PM EST

Real Salt Lake got their revenge in the second meeting with fellow expansion club Chivas USA, getting a pair of goals two minutes apart in the first half and completely shutting down the Chivas attack in a 2-0 victory on Wednesday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Andy Williams and Seth Trembly gave Real a 2-0 lead just before the end of the first half while the RSL kept Chivas USA from getting a single shot on target on the night as the home side moved into third place in the Western Conference.

Real had the best of the early play, nearly taking the lead in the 10th minute when Chris Brown took control of an errant Chivas USA pass and made a long run into the area before he lifted the ball just over the top of the crossbar.

RSL threatened again in the 24th minute when Chivas USA 'keeper Brad Guzan came out of the box to challenge for the ball, but failed to come up with it as several players converged. It popped out to Andy Williams at the corner of the box and he controlled the ball before firing a hard shot past several defenders that went just wide of the empty net.

Five minutes later it was Chivas USA's turn to offer up a scare. Orlando Perez penetrated the penalty area before dishing the ball off to Hector Cuadros at the edge of the penalty area. Cuadros fired off a rocket that beat RSL 'keeper D.J. Countess to the far post, but the woodwork proved to be a savior as the ball caught the post and ricocheted back into Countess' arms.

But after the close call RSL's offense caught fire. In the 37th minute Brown again brought the ball into the box, forcing Guzan to commit to him. After the Chivas 'keeper made his move, Brown dropped the ball off to Williams near post, and he easily put the ball into the upper corner for his first goal of the season.

Just two minutes later it was two former Colorado Rapids hooking up to give Real a two-goal advantage. The home side hit Chivas on the counter and Jordan Cila took the ball deep into the corner. Pinned near the corner flag, Cila then played the ball along the end line to a hard-charging Seth Trembly who slotted the ball near post past Guzan.

With the new attacking thrust, Chivas USA had little trouble holding the ball in the RSL defensive half of the field, but they were unable to mount any serious scoring opportunities until the 67th minute when Armando Begines turned the corner on his man and played a nice ball into Douglas Sequeira. Sequeira hit a beautiful half-volley that looked to be on frame, but the RSL defense was able to clear.

Then in the 77th minute Thiago Martins got on the good end of a cross to again threaten, but Brian Dunseth was able to get a foot on the shot and send it away.

Real came back into the game after seeing Chivas dominate much of the possession, and the started to see attacks at both ends. RSL looked like they had another goal in the 79th minute when Cila made a nice backheel pass to Clint Mathis, who had a clear path to the goal, but put his open shot just off the far post.

In the dying minutes of the match Chivas center back Alfonso Loera was sent off after receiving two quick yellow cards, first for delaying a restart and then kicking the ball 15 rows into the stands.

Riding a two-match winning streak at home, Real this Saturday will entertain the Columbus Crew (9:30 p.m. ET), while Chivas USA return home to take on the Western Conference leader FC Dallas on Sunday at The Home Depot Center (9:30 p.m. ET).

MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Andy Williams (Real Salt Lake)

David Hale is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.